Computing-yardstick.



PATENTBD MAR. 29, 1904.

W. S. C'OGBURN. COMPUTING YARDSTICK.

APPLIOATION FILED 111111.12. 190s.

NO MODEL ill YH: Nonms PETER: cc.. Puofommo.. wlan-unam", D- c.

Patented March 29, 1904.

lPATENT OFFIcE.

WILLIAM S. COGBURN, OF PARIS, TEXAS.

COMPUTING-YARDSTICK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 755,746, dated March 29, 1904.

rippingfaim; fue@ March 12,1903.

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. COGBURN, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Paris, in the county of Lamar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Computing-Yardsticks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of' the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in computing-yardsticks or other linear measures.

The object of the invention is to provide a yardstick or other linear measures and an attachment for the same whereby the correct measurement. as well as the price of the goods, may be quickly given.

vA further object is to provide a yardstick of this character the scale arrangement of which will be simple and easily understood and by the use of which' diiiicult calculations are obviated.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter -fully described, and particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,` Figure is a plan view of a yardstick embodying the invention, showing the same folded. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same opened, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device with the parts in the position shown in Fig. l.

In the drawings, l denotes a yardstick of the ordinary form having arranged thereon the usual scale-marks representing the fractions of a yard and the inches. Attached to one side of the yardstick in any suitable manner is a double computing-board 2, composed of an inner fiXed section 3 ,and an outer section 4:, hinged to the inner fixed section 3.

The upper side of' the section 3 is ruled off into vertical columns and horizontal lines or rows of spaces, the rulings being in the form of grooves in the surface of the boards, and the lines forming the horizontal rows of spaces are colored alternately red and black. The

Serial No. 147,474. (No model.)

rulings of the section 4 are similarly arranged and are formed on bothsides of this section. In the first vertical column of spaces A, beginning with the outer space on the reverse side of the section 4L, is arranged a column of iigures beginning with twelve and one-half cents and ending with twenty-five cents and representing the price of goods per yard. The outer horizontal line of space B on the reverse Vside of the section 4, or on the top side when said section is folded upon the section 3, contains a line of figures beginning with 3 and .ending with 25, and the outer horizontal line of spaces C on the top side of thesection 4 when the same is opened contains a line of figures beginning with V3 and ending with 150. The figures in both thelines of spaces B and C indicate the amount of goods wanted in dollarsand cents, while the numbers in all the rest of the spaces represent the number of inches certain sums of money will buy at given prices per yard. For instance, a customer wants fifteen cents worth of goods at n twenty cents a yard. It will be readily seen by reference to Fig. 1 that in the vertical column under the fifteen cents (which is the amount asked for) and in the twenty-cent line (which is the price per yard of the desiredV goods) the amount of goods coming to the customer is twenty-seven inches, or, should the customer ask for'twenty-seven inches, or three-fourths of a yard, of goods at twenty cents per yard it would simply be 'necessary to follow out the twenty-cent line to the column containing the twenty-seven inches, then follow that column to the top line, when the cost of three-fourths of a yard,or twenty-seven inches, will be found to be fifteen cents.

Another feature of the device is that should a customer call for one-sixteenth, one-eighth, one-fourth, one-third, three-eighths, one-half,

five eighths, two thirds, three fourths, or

seven-eighths of a yard of goods, these fractions being shown on the yardstick opposite the inches, it is simply necessary for the clerk to glance at the number of inches opposite the fraction of yard asked for and then refer to the scale-board for that number of inches in the price-per-yard line and when found to run up that column to the top line, which gives the cost of the amount of goods desired.

The lines forming the spaces in which the iigures or numerals are placed are grooved, as hereinbefore described, to enable the clerk or operator to run his pencil along to more readily follow out a line or column.

rihe stick and attached sections may be formed of any suitable material, such as wood, aluminium, or other metals.

The advantages derived from a yardstick constructed as herein shown and described will be readily7 apparent and among which are the convenience of the arrangement, affording a computing-scale which will enable the operator to ascertain the cost of goods or the amount of goods, as the case may be, almost at a glance.

rlhe folding' feature of the computing-board permits the use of a wide range of prices upon a comparative small space, and when the sections are folded together, as in Figs. l and 3, a neat compact appearance is given to the board.

By reference to Fig. l, which shows the reverse side of the section 4, it will be seen that the amounts of goods up to twenty-six inches and ranging in price from twelve and one-half cents to twenty-five cents may be computed on this side of the section 4L, and upon opening the boards out, as in Fig. 2, it will be seen that amounts of goods up to one hundred and fifty inches and ranging in price from thirty cents to oner dollar and fifty cents may be-computed upon this side of both boards or sections.

'From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation, and ad- Vantages of my invention will be readily apparent, it is thought, without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrilicing any of the advantages ot the invention.

Having thus described my inventlon, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A folding computing scale-board, consisting of an inner section provided upon its upper side or face with suitable calculating indicia, and an outer section hinged to said inner section and adapted to be folded upon the same, said outer section having' coperating calculating indicia on bothsides thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A folding computing scale-board consisting of an inner section, and an outer section hinged to said inner section and adapted to be folded upon the same,a vertical column of spaces containing ligures representing the price per yard of goods, a horizontal line of spaces containing figures representing amounts of goods in money values, and horizontal lines of spaces containing {igures representin g amounts of goods in inches, arranged upon the upper side of said inner fixed section, and similarly-arranged lines and columns of figures arranged upon both sides of said outer foldable section, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A folding` computing scale-board having horizontal lines and vertical columns or spaces containing' figures representing amounts oi goods and prices per yard and fractions of a yard of the same, said spaces being formed by parallel grooves formed upon the surface of said boards and colored alternately in different colors, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM S. COG-BURN. Witnesses:

ZENO WV. DAVIS, W. R. i/VooD. 

